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Nokia sues Apple in European courts

13-patent broadside opens new front

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Nokia has filed for patent infringement against Apple in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, claiming ownership of more smartphone fundamentals.

The UK filing, for example, covers four patents, including ways of using touch interfaces and on-device application stores. In Germany Nokia is filing twice, in Dusseldorf and Mannheum, with patents including antenna structures, caller ID and display illumination, while in the Netherlands the filing only includes to two patents related to signal noise suppression and data card functionality.

Quite why the filings are spread around Europe in that way isn't clear, nor why the different patents in different countries. But Florian Mueller, of the FOSS, reminds us that it was Apple who brought the dispute across the pond, and that Nokia is likely responding in kind and in the locations already picked by Apple – or perhaps they just fancy a European tour.

Either way, the patents join the 24 that Nokia has already accused Apple of infringing in the USA, and from Nokia's statements on the subject they appear pretty broad too: "For example, using a wiping gesture on a touch screen to navigate content, or enabling access to constantly changing services with an on-device app store".

For those having trouble keeping up, the good Mr Meuller is working on a diagram to show which patents Apple and Nokia are suing each other over, similar to the one he's already constructed detailing Apple vs HTC and Motorola which makes the whole thing as clear as spaghetti. Given the locations and dates, we can't help thinking a tour T-shirt would be more in keeping, though by the time we're done there'll probably be more dates and venues than even the most generous girth can accommodate. ®